Xerographic copying device

ABSTRACT

A XEROGRAPHIC TYPE COPYING DEVICE IS DISCLOSED WHICH SUPPORTS PLANAR MATERIAL TO BE COPIED AND A CARRIAGE SLIDABLY DISPOSED BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL TO BE COPIED FOR INCREMENTALLY EXPOSING PORTIONS OF THE SURFACE TO REFLECT THE SAME UPON A SHEET OF SENSITIZED MATERIAL DISPOSED BENEATH THE CARRIAGE, SENSITIZED MATERIAL IS FED FROM A ROLL IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESELECTED INCREMENTS, THE INCREMENTS BEING SEVERED WHEN THE CARRIAGE COMMENCES MOVEMENT IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO EXPOSE THE INCREMENT, AND TRANSPORTED TO ACTIVATING DEVICE DURING THE PERIOD IN WHICH THE CARRIAGE IS RETURNING TO ITS INITIAL POSITION. THE ACTIVATING UNIT INCLUDES SEVERAL CHAMBERS FORMED BY SEPTUMS DISPOSED WITHIN A TANK CONTAINING AN ACTIVATING FLUID, AND A DEVICE IS PROVIDED FOR DIRECTING SUCCESSIVE SEGMENTS OF EXPOSED SENSITIZED MATERIAL TO DIFFERENT CHAMBERS WHEREBY SEVERAL EXPOSED SEGMENTS OR SHEETS MAY BE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTIVATED WHILE THE DEVICE IS IN OPERATION.

July 4, 1972 D. L. HERMAN XEROGRAPHIC COPYING DEVICE Original FiledMarch 20, 1968 3 SheetsSheet 1 y 1972 D. L. HERMAN XEROGRAPHIC COPYINGDEVICE Original Filed March 20, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1972 0. L.HERMAN 3,674,361

XEROGRAPHIC COPYING DEVICE Original Filed March 20, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheets Fig.5

United States Patent Int. Cl. G03g 15/00 US. Cl. 355-8 1 Claim ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A xerographic type copying device is disclosed whichsupports planar material to be copied and a carriage slidably disposedbeneath the surface of the material to be copied for incrementallyexposing portions of the surface to reflect the same upon a sheet ofsensitized material disposed beneath the carriage. Sensitized materialis fed from a roll in accordance with preselected increments, theincrements being severed when the carriage commences movement in a firstdirection to expose the increment, and transported to activating deviceduring the period in which the carriage is returning to its initialposition. The activating unit includes several chambers formed byseptums disposed within a tank containing an activating fluid, and adevice is provided for directing successive segments of exposedsensitized material to different chambers whereby several exposedsegments or sheets may be simultaneously activated while the device isin operation.

This application is a division of my co-pending applcation Ser. No.719,291, filed Mar. 20, 1968, and now Pat. No. 3,523,726, entitledXerographic Copying Device.

This invention relates generally to the field of xerographic copyingdevices of a type using metallic oxide coated papers which are firstelectrostatically charged, exposed to an image, and subsequentlyactivated using a liquid toner which usually contains finally dividedcarbon particles in a volatile solvent. Devices of this type are wellknown in the art, being usually referred to as Electrofax type machines,and the invention lies in specific constructional improvementspermitting increased speed of operation, and increased economy ofoperation based upon the saving of unused paper.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide anactivating unit which may simultaneously operate on successive segmentsor sheets of sensitized paper following exposure, so that the waitngperiod between successve exposures may be considerably shortened.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of theclass described utilizing a reciprocating carriage for exposure of thesensitized material, in which successive segments of sensitizedmaterials are advanced after exposure, and during the period in whichthe carriage is returning to a homing position.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improveddevice of the class described in which the required length of paper forany given exposure may be preselected in accordance with the length ofthe material to be copied.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedxerographic type copying device in which the cost of fabrication may beof a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution anduse.

A further object of the invention lies in he provision of an improvedxerographic copying device employing sensitized material in roll form inwhich each succeeding segment of exposed sensitive material is severedfrom the roll prior to exposure thereof, so that it may be immediatelytransported to an activating station while a reciprocating carriagewhich has exposed the segment is returning to home position.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and bepointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an em bodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic transverse sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective showing paper transport meanscomprising a part of the disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic wiring diagram.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing activatingmeans comprising a part of the disclosed embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a frame and casing element11, original copy retaining means 12, exposure means 13, copy papersupply means 14, copy paper activating means 15, and electricalcircuitry 16.

The frame and casing element 11 may be manufactured in accordance withconventional practices, and includes a bottom wall 20 having supportlegs 21 for supporting the device 10 upon a horizontal surface 22, afront wall 23, a rear wall 24, an upper Wall 25, and side walls, one ofwhich is indicated by reference character 26.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a septum 27 forms an air conduit 28 within theelement 11 and encloses a blower 29 which serves to transfer heat fromthe illumination means to a point within the element 11 wherein it maybe employed to assist in the elevation of a volatile solvent remainingupon activated copy paper, as the same exits from the device.

The original copy retaining means 12 is mounted on the upper surface 30of the upper wall .25 surrounding an opening 31 which mounts a glassplate 32. A frame 33 is disposed above the plate 32, and mounts aflexible pressure platen 34 of well known type, which may be movedupwardly by a handle 35 to permit the introduction and removal oforiginal copy (not shown).

The exposure means 13 includes a reciprocating carriage element 38supported for horizontal movement on rods 39 and 40, the rods beingpositioned by forward and rearward supports 41 and 42, respectively. Thesupports 41-42 are mounted on the under surface 43 of a horizontallypositioned septum 44.

The carriage element 38 includes a vertically oriented plate 45,engaging one end 46 of a first light shielding curtain 47, the oppositeend of which (not shown) is engaged with a transversely extending springloaded spool 48. A second curtain 49 is similarly mounted on a secondspring loaded spool 50, and the free end 51 thereof is attached to abracket 52 on the carriage element. A manually adjustable Wheel 53determines the effective width of an aperture 54 between the curtains 47and 49 in well known manner.

Mounted on the upper surface of the second curtain 49 is a reflector 55,the reflector in turn supporting a transversely oriented quartz iodinelamp 56 which illuminates the under-surface of the original copy. Amotor 57 operates a chain drive 58 suspended between sprockets 59 and60, and a pair of chains, one of which is indicated by referencecharacter 61 extends the length of the path of travel of the carriage totransmit the motion of the motor 57 thereto.

Mounted on the vertical plate 45 is an upper angularly disposed mirror63 which receives light rays 64 reflected from the original copy, to alens 65. Passing through the lens 65, the rays strike a verticallyoriented mirror 66, from which they are reflected back through the lensto a lower mirror 67, and then upon the upper surface 58 of a segment orsheet of paper disposed in position for exposure. A separate air blower69 communicates with an air conduit 70 to provide a current of air formaintaining the copy paper in planar position, so as to lie in the focalplane of the lens 65.

The copy paper supply means 14 includes an auxiliary housing 73 formingbracket means 74 supporting a paper supply spindle 75. The spindle inturn supports a roll 76 of sensitized material. An upper transverseshaft 77 mounts drag or brake means 78, which in turn rests upon a paperweb 79 emanating from the roll 76. The web 79 passes over a guide 80 forentry between upper and lower web advancement rollers 81 and 82 whichare powered by motor means 83 through a chain drive 84 and sprocket 85.A second guide 86 is positioned adjacent a knife element 87 including astationary edge 88 and a movable blade 89 powered by a selectivelyoperated solenoid '90. The severed segment of paper rests upon a papersupporting platform 91, the details of which are best seen in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the platform 91 is mounted on a sub-frame 92 byscrew means 93, in such manner that the upper surface 94 thereof isdisposed in the focal plane of the lens 65. The platform 91 includesfour elongated slots 95, which accommodate paper transport belts 96supported by pulleys 97 on shafts 98 and 99. The shaft 98 is driventhrough a sprocket 99 and sprocket chain 101 from the paper advancementmeans, as best seen in FIG. 1. A centrally disposed rectangular opening103 mounts a plate 104 having an elongated slot 105 therein, beneathwhich is disposed a slidably mounted photocell 106 having an associateddirectional light source 107. Manually operated means 108 projectingoutwardly of the casing and frame element 11 positions the photocell 106in accordance with the desired length of sensitizedpaper to be used fora given exposure, as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. '5 in the drawings, the copy paper activating meansincludes means for immersing exposed paper in a liquid activator of wellknown type, normally including a suspension of carbon particles in avolatile organic solvent. In prior art devices, the activating meanshas, for all practical purposes, determined the effective output of thecopier since it is the slowest acting unit in a line operation whichincludes the advancement of paper to a position for exposure the actualexposure, and the subsequent transport of the paper to the activatingunit. Thus, in prior art devices the exposure and transport means areoften required to be in inactive state while a previously exposed pieceof sensitized material is being activated. The present inventioncontemplates the simultaneous activation of several pieces of exposedsensitized material, so that when multiple copies are made in rapidsuccession, the activator is in condition to accept exposed material asfast as it is produced.

Referring to FIG. 5, the means 15 includes a rectangular tank 113mounting upper and lower trays 114 and 115, respectively, whichcooperate with a pivotally mounted guide 116 supported by a transverselyextending shaft 117. An end 118 of the shaft supports a pair of cammembers 119 and 120 which are alternately contacted by a cam actuatingmeans 122 mounted on the carriage element 38. The means 122 is mountedon a pintle 123, and includes a circular plate 124 having first andsecond sets of projections 125 and 126 which are alternately positionedwith each carriage element reciprocation. Spring loaded detent means 127cooperates with nitches 128 in the periphery 129 of the member 124. Astationary member 130 mounted on the element 11 causes incrementalrotation to position successive projections 125 or 126 in line with thecorresponding cams to move the guide 16 to a position where it isaligned with either the upper tray 114 or the lower tray 115.

A continuously rotating motor 131 operates a first set of rollers 132serving to move individual sheets or segments of exposed material intoeither the upper or lower portions of the tank 113. The same motordrives a second set of squegee rollers 133 which conduct the nowactivated sheets to an exit chute 134, at which point they are engagedby a third set of exit rollers 135 which move the finished sheetsoutwardly of the device. In this position, the sheets are exposed to hotair from the blower 29, which evaporates remaining vehicle remaining onthe surfaces of the sheets.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the electrical circuitry bymeans of which the various elements are operated. A power source 133supplies 110 volt alternating current through a fuse 139 and aninterlock switch 140 to a master switch 141, which when closed,continuously powers the paper actuating means. Current also flowsthrough a conductor 142 to a turbidity indicator 143 of well known typewhich serves to advise the user when additional activating materials areneeded. A conductor 144 services a neon pilot light 145. A conductor 146conducts current to a paper feed switch 147 which is automaticallyclosed during operation as more fully described hereinbelow. The pumpmotor 149, which circulates fluid within the tank 113 runs continuouslywhen the master switch 141 is closed. This is also true of the blowermotor 150 and heater 151, which is optionally installed whereinsuflicient heat is generated by the lamp 56.

The conductor 153 carries current to the print switch 154 which is of amomentary contact type and cooperates with an interlock switch 155. Theswitch 154 also operates the paper knife solenoid 90.

The carriage reversing switch 157 is actuated by contact of the carriagetherewith at the completion of its leftward or exposing movement, andopening of the switch, which is normally closed interrupts currentthrough the conductor 158 to the relay 159, thus changing the positionof two double pole, double throw switches 161 and 162. This movementextinguishes the corona 163 and lamp 56, and connects current through asecond coil in the carriage motor 57 to reverse the direction of thecarriage and return it to homing position which is the rightward-mostposition as seen in FIG. 1 in the drawing.

The paper position switch 166 cooperates with the paper feed switch, andis relay operated in conjunction with the photocell 106, so that paperwill be advanced by the paper feed motor upon completion of the leftwardmovement of the carriage when the paper feed switch is closed, themovement being continued by a relay 167, the relay circuit being openedby completion of the photocell circuit, which then stops the paper feedmotor at the desired position. Manual switch means 168 may be used toreverse the direction of the paper feed motor, in the grant that excesspaper is already positioned on the plate Upon reaching homing position,the switch is opened by contact of the carriage therewith, at whichpoint current to the carriage motor is interrupted, and the deviceawaits reactuation by closing the print switch.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a xerographic copying device including relatively fixed means forsupporting material to be copied, a reciprocating carriage disposed forco-planar movement in first and second directions with respect to saidfixed means, said carriage including means for transferring an image toa sensitive surface when moving in said first direction, and returningto a predetermined starting position when moving in said seconddirection, means for progressively feeding upon demand a roll ofsensitized material as a continuous web, cutting means for severingexposed segments of said web, transport means for moving said severedsegments to an activating station, and means operatively connected tosaid cutting means for operating said cutting means during movement ofsaid carriage in said first direction, and for operating said feedingmeans during movement of said carriage in said second direction.

SAMUEL s.

7/1970 Koizumi 355-28 X 10/1970 Suzuki et a1 35513 6/1969 Frank 355 8FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1967 Great Britain 35510 MATTHEWS, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

